Fire grate



Dec. 25, 1945. L. sHARPE FIRE GRATE Filed NOV. 17, 1942 7% INVENTOR. m?? g- Patented Dec. 25, 1945 i UNITED 1' STAT Es PATENT i *ori-*ICE L IRE. Giorni: i e

William'LfS'harpe, Steubenville, Ohio, assignor to f The Ohio Foundry yt Manufacturing Company, i t

Y A I VSteubenville, Ohio, acorporation of Qhio Applieaupn'nttembef 17,1942, serialnmsasas" sclaims. (ol. 12e- 165) ,y This` l invention relatesV generally.V to. re; grates andmore particularlytobasket type' grates and Y redogs for supporting burning fuel such aswood, coal and ceramics charged wither subjected to fluid fuels.

The principal objectof this invention is the provision of a sectional grate structure' for supportingy burning fuel. Another object is the` provision of a grate in which the structure off the grate will absorb'and radiate heat from burning fuel that it supports. f YAnother object is, the provision of a sectional grate structure, the parts of which are capable-of being assembled indifferent positionsV relative to one another for changing theform of the grate. Another object isthe provision of a number of parts which when; assembled in bloclcform produce a iire basket wherein the individuall piecesl are interlocked but not attached.

. Another object is the provision of a ceramic grate structureywherein lsuch refractory materials as .Missourrfiint clay lmay be employed instead of the usual iron or steel, for the purpose o f ,economi/or for artistic reasons. Other objects and advantagesiappear inthe following description and claims. f Practical ernlcgodiments,` illustrating the ciplesY of this invention are shown in panying drawing wherein: f v

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an assembled grate structure.

Drinthe accom.-

Fig. 2v is a side elevational view of thestructure 'shown in Fig. 1. Y y .Y

Sis an end elevational Yview of the structure shown'in Fig.m1.,. Y y

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the intermediate sections or the grate structure similar to Vthats'hown in Figs...l and 2. V t n I Fig` 5 is a perspective view of a unitary'end member. Y Y Y l t Fig. 6 is a partial view in section of the end member shown in Fig. with two intermediate sections of the grate structure.A Y

7 is a view taken on a longitudinalfsection of amodied form of grate structure.

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7. Figli!) is a` perspective View of the grate -support. 1

'Fig.A 10 is a perspective view of the end section of the grate structure shown in Fig.,7.

[.VFig. 11 is a partial isometric view of one of the grate bars shown in Fig. 7. t y t Y .Fia `1211s a View or e. structure similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but as sembleddin an inverted position to produce a flat top grate structure. Y

Referring generally to the drawing, the grate structures shown are made up of a number of individual ceramic elements or members, some of which are duplicates of each other, that are constructed to tand interlock with one another to form a complete grate capable of holding burning fuel. yThefshape of these ceramic members permitting them to interlockingly ttogether and form agrate Vstructure is one of the principal combinations of this invention. As-shown in Figs. 1

to 3 the grate is carried on the spaced block orV arch members III the feet II of which are sufllciently wide to provide a steady support for the structure. The ridge of eacharch member is flat and has an upwardly extending projection or lug I2 atr each end to prevent the support members or rails I3 from being shoved oi their support. Therails I3 are-,preferably substantially square in cross section and may be provided with channels I4 on the under side` that t down over the ridgey of the arch members to hold these four members in assembled relation. Y Each rail end has t an upwardly extending head or projection I5 which in Figs.,1to 3 engage the outer surface of the end grateror tuyre members I6.

The end grate members I6 are rectangular parallelopiped with one side and the top hollowed out as shown at I1 to produce the concaveKend of the grate bowl. The end members I6 may be duplicates asshown or one may have lugs along the inner lower edge for thepurpose of spacing itv from Ythe next adjacent intermediate or tuyre member I8. An intermediate member I8 is shown in Fig. 4. This member is similar to the end member i6 with its sidewall removed, thus. providing a cross bar I9 with upwardly projecting ends 20 which produce a shape similar to the profile of the yinner face of the end members.

Lugs l2I are formed on one side of the bar I9 of each intermediate member I8 for the purpose of holding them in spaced relation from thenext adjacent member. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the intermediate member I8 in the center may be provided with lugs 2| on each side thereof.. This is an alternative form that may be employed instead of placingthe lugs 2| on one of the end members.

The bottom-f Yeach of the ne members is andthe intermediate members I8 are provided with aligned channels or grooves 22 which fit down over the rails I 3. 'I'hus each member is interlockedwith the rails and the rails are in turny structure the end members 23 are disposed at the proper distance from one another and the ends of the rails I3 are inserted through the openings 24 with their heads I5 extending 4downwardly to engage the outer surface of theendmembers and lock them in position. The intermediate members I8 are then positioned on the rails I3` the head I5 is triangular to support the sloping back of the end member when it is turned with its concave portion turned upwardly as in Fig. 1. The side and end walls of these prisms shaped end members are of uniform thickness which is advantageous in a ceramic structure of this character. y The ceramiematerial .from which these grate parts are molded is preferably :a flint clay such as found in Missouri which has a high resistance to thermal and mechanical shock. Its shrinkage in drying and firing is low and it is capable of being made into 'rod form, such as the rails disclosed herein, which can withstand relatively heavy loads when-cold or hot.

The use of a ceramic grate structure provides Vmeans for supporting the re bed and at the with the grooves 22 fitting ydown over the same.V

Thus the pieces forming the structure of Figs. 5 and 6 are each interlocked with the rails in a manner similar vto that described witlsi reference to Figs. l to 3.

In 'the structure lshown in Figs. 7 and 8 `the ridge of each arch er support member 225 is :made arcuate as shown a-t 236 inplace of being flat vas on the arch members lil. Thus the semicircular ridge portions of the support members 25 merge upwardly into theprojections I2. The arcuate ridge 2Q may follow a semi-cylindrical or semielliptical shape with a smooth curved surface or a series kof short nat faces approximating a similar shape. The shape of the ridge 25 may vary in degree from the at ridge of the arch member Il] tothe arcuate ridge surface 'illustrated lin Fig. 9.

A plurality of rails or grate bar lmembers 21, the ends of which are shown in detail in Fig. 11, are-provided with transversely disposed channels or grooves Id'on -the under side for fitting vdow-n over the ridge v2t vofthe arch members 25 and the projections I2 prevent their outward lateral movement. -Since the rails 21 in fthis instance form the grate bars they vmust be held lin spaced relation. This may be accomplished by spaced lugs on the surface of the ridge 26 or by the lugs Ellen one side 'of the rails 21 as shown.A The centermost railneed not be provided with spacine lugs 2 I. The top surace of the ends of the rails 21 may be' provided with closely spaced 'upwardly eX- tending' lugs 28 for receiving the end wall 3D which in Figs. 7, 8,l and 10 is a pla'inrflat plate substantially semi-circular in shape. If the rails 2'I'were employed on the arch members I0 of Fig. 1 the end wall '35i would take the shape of a rectangular bar. 'When the notches I4 of the rails 21 are engaged over the ridge of the arch members the spaced lugs 28 are Adisposed in alignment to receive the end walls and lock them in position. Aspreviously pointed out all of the parts are interlocked with the rails to form a complete grate assembly. v'This type vof grate is particularly advantageous for 'burning logs whereas the other two grate forms are better for coal. Y

To obtain a flat top grate with the pieces illustrated in Figs.`1 to 3 the arch members I-D fare' inverted and the notches I4 of 'the rails I3 are inserted over the `'feet AI I, as `shown in Fig. l2. The end members I6 and the intermediate Vmembers I8 are also inverted and placed on the rails I3, permitting vthe bowl to face downwardly vwith the transverse grate bars forming a flat top that can be used `as a grate or a hot plate. The end members `IB in this view are prism shaped and Vsame jtime ffurnishesa body that has the property of ineandescence when heated for the purpose of radiating heat energy which is not characteristic 'of the zmetalrgrates lof this character. 'It has also been found that the ceramic -gr'ate is capable of retainmg-considerably.more heat which raids in maintaining 4a re .in ka ngrate vstructure of this character in the open as contrasted to a rire pot or `grate lined with lire clay.

Referring to Figs. 1 .and `2, where wood vlogs are to be used as fuel, they may :lay on the intermediate members IB, and, vin case of logs of considerable length, the endwmembers I6 may be removed and additional members I8 substituted, thus providing: anopen ended lgrate which will serve the purposes of andirons or dogs with the added advantage of intermediate support for the logs.

In like manner if the end members 30 in Figs. 7 and 3 be removed, logs -of considerable 4length may be burned with great convenience. AAgain dogs or bricks may be substituted for arch members or'endsupports Il) and 25 in Figs. 2 "and 7.

Furthermore where they distance between the end supports or :archesis veryvconsiderable bricks or other suitable supports may be provided as intermediate undersupp'orting members for 'the rails I'3 or V2'I in Figs. 2 and 7.

I claim: Y v

1. A fire grate of assembled ceramic parts consisting of a set 'of support members arranged in parallel spaced relation to lone another, a set of grate bar 'members disposed transversely of and assembled on the support members, means on the grate bar members for maintaining them in spaced relation relative to each other, projections adjacent the ends of the support members for holding the grate bar members in assembled relation therebetween and to prevent their outward lateral movement, and spaced channels on each grate 'bar member which interlock with the support members to `prevent the grate bar members from longitudinal movement.

2. The structure of claim 1 being further characterized in that the grate bar members extend upwardly toiorm the sides of a lire basket.

3. 'The structure of claimV 1 being further characterized in that the ends of the intermediate grate bar members extend upwardly to form the vsides of a ire basket and the end grate bar members are each provided with an upwardly extending wall -to -form the Jends 'of the nre basket.

4. The structure -of claim f1, which also includes a set of block members arranged in Aparallel spaced relation for carrying'the support mem-` bers, and channelson 1one set of members to-nterlock the support me A bers with the block mem-f bers.v r

5. The structure of claim 1 being further characterized in that the portions of the support members on which the grate bar members rest ymerge upwardly into said projections.

walls, means on the grate bars for maintaining them in spacedrelation relative to each other and to permit downward passage of ash therebetween, spaced channel means on each grate bar interlocking with the support members to prevent the grate bar members from longitudinal movements, and said end walls and set of grate bars being formed of cast non-metallic moldable material. WILLIAM L. SHARPE. 

